Shannon Mendis: Ice, Ice, Baby

This week started out way cool. Literally. We went for ice swimming and the sauna on Monday with a group from work and it was amazing. This is yet another thing you can enjoy here when it's this cold!! Sounds crazy when I try to explain, but it's something I felt I HAD to try! Why not?

So there I am walking into the place with a heavy coat on, gloves, tights, scarf, two layers of socks and pants...can't forget those...the list goes on...and I'm thinking, what did I get myself into? I'm now looking at people coming out of a hole that has been cut out of the ice and they are only wearing their bathing suits!! WHAAAAAAAT!!

So we get changed and sit in the sauna for a bit and then they say to me, IT'S TIME! The best advice I got from a guy there was, "Don't think about it! Just DO IT!"  As I was walking towards the area where I was to get in, I couldn't STOP thinking about how crazy I was to be doing this. And then after some coaching from Hanna, I went for it. When I got out I was in shock at first, but then I got warm. It was such a weird feeling. I guess with the blood circulating throughout my body I was ok with it all and I got a REFRESHING feeling out of it. So I went back upstairs to the sauna to warm up. Next thing you know, I am going again and again. The last time I went, I was with Tiki.  We were both standing there in bikinis and it started snowing!! It's so crazy telling this story because I can just imagine your thoughts and you shaking your head....like yeah right! But I have pictures to prove it! Afterwards, we ate a meal and chatted with one another. Kaisa planned the whole thing and I was so happy to have this experience. :)

This weekend marks 2 months already. I swear, the time is flying. I also purchased a ticket to Amsterdam for the end of my trip here. It's truly a blessing to be able to travel so much while I am here. Like I said before and can't say enough, the time I have spent here in Finland has been such a positive, life-changing, adventurous experience. I feel it has literally helped me GROW both in my job training and personal life.

Speaking of my job, work is going great! I completed a travel shopping supplement for both Divaani and Olivia. Yay for print!!  I also designed some new images for the web so we can change banners often and have a fresh look. Today, I plan to design a template for the Olivia newsletter. Can't wait to see what next week will bring!

This weekend, I am heading to Copenhagen, Denmark! I am super excited to see the sights and eat a hot dog! The Little Mermaid is one of the sights I am excited to see. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen is her father. He wrote the fairy tale The Little Mermaid in 1837. Disney produced the film, and Copenhagen maintains a statue in her honor. The statue of The Little Mermaid continues to be the most popular tourist attraction in Denmark and one of the most photographed statues in the world.

Under the sea, under the sea....Darling it's better down where it's wetter...Take it from me!